I agree...this year was a time for growth, next year we need results. We have seen the flashes, now its time for the fireworks.

For what it's worth, I am not just raw raw, he's my guy. I have been pretty critical of Bradford at times, especially in year 2. But I think he is finally at a place where the game has slowed somewhat, and he is starting to feel comfortable taking charge of a game.

I hope he develops. He was my favorite web prospect since Eli so I was very big on him.

I have to agree. I think we are going to see Sam Bradford have a coming out party next season.

I think Sam will improve his numbers to something like 63% completions, 4100 yards, 7.4 ypa, and 25 td's, with only 10 int's, and a passer rating in the high 80's. Not Pro Bowl numbers, but in the top 10-15.

Others are looking at the stats and giving context to stats with impressions of what they have seen in games as well.

And with your endorsement of this stat you have to defend the output it gives of Smith compared to other QB. It says Smith was 10 best QB when he played in 2012. Do you think he was? I'm guessing that number doesn't tell the whole story?

It is what some have being doing here. Like 'Smith gets a lot of stat boosts from YAC'. Partly true and I showed it wasn't extreme for him and obviously YAC help is true for almost everyone to different degrees.

That stat info has a nice summary that should be all pages.
Stats are a good jump start to a discussion and help frame things but they are far from being near to what they are worth in baseball.

Dude. I've already said in this thread that Smith has played like a top 15, maybe Top 10 QB since Harbaugh showed up. So, yeah, I kind of do think he was. I've also repeatedly said that I think a good enough team can get to a Super Bowl with Alex Smith, just like the 49ers almost did last year.

None of that means I think he did well before Harbaugh showed up, or that he'd be "better" than Jay Cutler if they changed places.

Problem is that Alex Smith is going to have to be traded for. Are the chiefs going to really spend a first and second round pick on a QB? I say Hells naw.

Smith is not going to bring back a second round pick. Sure as hell not the Chiefs second round pick. With a better contract he could probably get a mid to early third. Being set to make $8.5mm next year, he probably won't bring back a thing. He's not in high enough demand to give up a high pick and pay him that. The 49ers certainly aren't going to pay him $8.5mm to be a backup. Teams will just wait until he's cut and then try their luck to sign him.

Smith is not going to bring back a second round pick. Sure as hell not the Chiefs second round pick. With a better contract he could probably get a mid to early third. Being set to make $8.5mm next year, he probably won't bring back a thing. He's not in high enough demand to give up a high pick and pay him that. The 49ers certainly aren't going to pay him $8.5mm to be a backup. Teams will just wait until he's cut and then try their luck to sign him.

This accentuates my point QBs in the top 10-15 in the league command at least a first round pick if not a first and second. Alex isn't going to be worth half that value.

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This accentuates my point QBs in the top 10-15 in the league command at least a first round pick if not a first and second. Alex isn't going to be worth half that value.

I think he's in the range of 17-22. But the problem is that he is what he is at this point in his career. No rebuilding team is going to give up a high pick for that, and there isn't any contender that's an Alex Smith away from the Super Bowl. He's just not a guy you give up part of you future for.

This accentuates my point QBs in the top 10-15 in the league command at least a first round pick if not a first and second. Alex isn't going to be worth half that value.

To be fair though. How many have been traded? One(Jay Cutler). And the 9er's are in a position where every team in the league KNOWS Smith's cap hit for next year. They know San Fran will cut him if no takers come in so there will need to be a balance there. There is no way a team is going to throw a first round pick out there for a player that is almost a 100% certainty to be cut. No matter how good the man is. (Peyton Manning is a GREAT example of this last year.)

Why not? Because we might sign Alex Smith? That didn't stop the 49ers from drafting a QB, but it'll stop the Chiefs from doing the same?

Why waste the #1 pick on a position you just filled that would be a waste of a pick. You could use that pick to fill another need not pick a QB who may not even be your starter. You could even pick a QB later or if Smith does not work pick a QB next year when there is better quality QB.

To be fair though. How many have been traded? One(Jay Cutler). And the 9er's are in a position where every team in the league KNOWS Smith's cap hit for next year. They know San Fran will cut him if no takers come in so there will need to be a balance there. There is no way a team is going to throw a first round pick out there for a player that is almost a 100% certainty to be cut. No matter how good the man is. (Peyton Manning is a GREAT example of this last year.)

That is a different situation for Peyton he got cut to save tons of cap space no such problem exists with Smith. Carson Palmer also garnered a first and a second (not saying he is a top 10-15 QB mind you)

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Smith is not going to bring back a second round pick. Sure as hell not the Chiefs second round pick. With a better contract he could probably get a mid to early third. Being set to make $8.5mm next year, he probably won't bring back a thing. He's not in high enough demand to give up a high pick and pay him that. The 49ers certainly aren't going to pay him $8.5mm to be a backup. Teams will just wait until he's cut and then try their luck to sign him.

Kaepernick is getting paid next to nothing right now. The 49ers could easily keep Smith on the roster. Having only around $9 million tied up in the QB position with two pretty good QBs is not a problem in my eyes.

Of course, to keep Alex Smith on the roster would be kind of a jerk move by the 49ers.

Regardless, is $8.5 million a lot for a starting quarterback if he were traded?

Why waste the #1 pick on a position you just filled that would be a waste of a pick. You could use that pick to fill another need not pick a QB who may not even be your starter. You could even pick a QB later or if Smith does not work pick a QB next year when there is better quality QB.

If we sign Alex Smith then drafting a QB #1 wouldn't be a waste. Alex Smith is awful, and he has fluctuated between awful and decent. Any team signing him without a young franchise caliber signal caller to sit behind him for a year is making a huge mistake.